April 9, 2016
The racing calendar for next season (July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017) has been published and all South Burnett clubs have retained their key race day allocations.
Given the angst generated by the proposed cutbacks outlined in the Tracking Towards Sustainability document, country clubs can seemingly breathe more easily in the short term.
Generally speaking, the schedule is similar to the present season.
But with Eagle Farm back in action, naturally the TAB program has been amended.
Below are the fixtures for the SEQCRA District, with the exception of Beaudesert that is now largely a provincial set-up.
Kilcoy is in a similar category but is included in the listings because of its proximity to the South Burnett operators.
The dates shown are Saturday Non-TAB (Ubet) cards unless designated otherwise.
- Gympie – July 23, August 20, September 24, October 22, November 26, March 4, April 8, June 24.
- Bundaberg – July 16, September 3, November 1, December 10, February 4, March 18, May 6.
- Wondai – July 9, October 15, April 25.
- Nanango – August 13, September 17, December 4, February 25 , April 15, May 27.
- Kumbia – November 1.
- Esk – July 2, December 17, March 11.
- Kilcoy – June 17 (TAB), August 20 (TAB), December 3 (TAB), January 26, April 22 (TAB), May 9 (TAB).
- Burrandowan – May 13, 2017
- Gayndah – October 8, June 10.
- Eidsvold – February 18.
- Monto – April 1.
- Gatton – July 30, September 22 (TAB), February 11, March 7 (TAB), March 21 (TAB), April 6 (TAB), June 11 (TAB).
Note: With Kilcoy set to host a Sky 2 TAB program on Saturday, December 3, the Nanango Race Club has opted to conduct its first Sunday meeting the following day. Gympie however does clash head on with KIlcoy’s TAB slot on Saturday, August 20.
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Horses Prove Rule Is An Ass
Montanus, seeking to add to his 24-22-12 career record, goes into Saturday’s Noorama Cup with a Moranbah win and three thirds at Gladstone and Roma from his last four outings.
The bay has not been overtaxed with 14 runs since contesting the far south-western course’s feature event twelve months ago.
The 12 year-old faces permanent retirement as of July 31 because of a new Australian rule that bars thoroughbreds from racing when they turn 13.
However the Monashee Mountain gelding did not start his track career until he was a five-year-old.
In fact, he won at Tamworth on debut on his official August 1 birthday in 2008.
He has also made ports of call at Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Grafton, Kempsey, Casino, Dalby, Bell, Mitchell, McKinlay, Mt Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Charleville, Cunnamula, Augathella, Blackall, Aramac, Longreach, Wondai, Gympie, Bundaberg, Taroom, Calliope, Gladstone, Richmond, Birdsville, Beetoota, Bedourie, Charters Towers, Prairie, Clermont, Rockhampton, Alpha, Barcaldine, Winton, Middlemount, Isisford, Miles, Chinchilla, Wandoan, Goondiwindi and Eagle Farm.
For the 113 appearances to date, owner-trainer Bevan Johnson has taken the grandson of Success Express to 47 different venues.
The equine form of the Gypsy Rover would make an ideal guide for Grey Nomads come August 1.
Star Victorian jumper Bashboy (now 13), victorious in three Grand National Steeplechases, will also be required to stand down at season’s end.
The Perugino gelding has a current 15-8-2 form line from a mere 46 tasks.
His first run was recorded at Bendigo when he was a week shy of turning seven in 2008.
In anyone’s language, this guy has been very lightly raced.
Both these thoroughbreds bypassed the pressure cooker of two-year-old racing and they had several more seasons in which to mature. as well as several further years.
Their present physical situations could well be different if they were pushed to be early comers.
Obviously the rule is too general. Just as human veterans are required to re-sit a driving test at a certain point in life, these gallopers should be allowed to pass or fail via veterinary tests when they reach age 13.
Meanwhile, Queensland pacer Destreos faces up to the mobile for a record 401st occasion on Saturday night at Albion Park.
The 12-year-old registered his 90th success at his last start so he, too, is clearly not a spent force, either.
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Groomsmen And A Bridesmaid
Last Saturday was all about being second in line for South Burnett interests at Dalby.
Glenn Richardson and his apprentice Hannah English collected runner-ups spots with Mollara and Canid.
There is no racing at Toowoomba this weekend, so the side will head to Goondiwindi. Hannah will back up at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.
On the breeding side, Over The Venture, second there in Maiden company, put her sire Over on the podium, so to speak.
The chestnut filly deserves a change of fortune because she has filled that placing three times from her four career appearances to date.
The Dr Grace stallion that now stands at Old Boyneside for James and Laurie Curtain had only the three named foals born in 2012.
The other pair – Rosover and Ending Reign – have yet to sport silks.
Meanwhile, Burnett trainers Kristen Wenck (Col’s Pride), “Shorty” O’Toole (Denarte) and Wayne Farrington (Miss Alexandra) take each other on in the Maiden at Gympie on Saturday.
